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Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

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Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#461

Post by Too »

benkuhn wrote: post #13

It's also really easy to have high quality audio! The author recommends a "podcasting" microphone, but a $35 standalone headset mic[1] is almost as good and much easier to use. If you want to hear a comparison, I got kind of obsessed with this problem at one point and took some comparison recordings here[2]. (You need a standalone mic since most headsets, even really nice ones, have really bad mics because most heads…

This video from Electroboom has a lot of similar comparisions, examples, tips and tricks for high quality audio. With all the science behind to back it up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7CtnR47w20 (Fantastic channel btw)

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#463

Post by stolsvik »

brundolf wrote: post #319
Cd00d wrote: post #301

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It baffles me that some people don't seem to care about their audio quality on calls. The most obnoxious are those who use speakers and you get echo on all your talking, and despite telling them, they still never bother to get a decent mic. I see comments along these lines here all the time, and I don't get it. I'm on zoom a majority of my day, and have maybe two colleagues that don't just use the laptop mic/speake…

If they're using external speakers, the only reason you're not hearing echo is because it's being software-cancelled. Different systems are better or worse at this software-cancelling; phones are good, Apple computers are good, otherwise YMMV.

Teams is good, Slack is good, Zoom is good. Which ones are bad?

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#465

Post by stephvd »

pachydermballet wrote: post #84
gkbrk wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Heard good things about the Behringer C-1U.

My daughter uses one for recording songs; very clear, and was (IME) slightly simpler to set up under Linux than Windows as the latter took some fiddling to sort out low gain on that platform.

thank you!

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#466

Post by stephvd »

tnzm wrote: post #148
stephvd wrote: post #8

What are some decently good mics that don't break the bank but do the work?

Note that studio mics recommended in this thread, like the SM57 or the C1, need to be plugged with an XLR cable into an audio interface. Focusrite, for one, makes good USB audio interfaces - but it's still an extra device to buy and then keep on your desk/carry around (and, optionally, to understand). For conferencing, it's much more convenient to just use a USB mic. I can recommend the RØDE NT-USB for this purpose -…

Most of these are great options but I don't have the will nor interest in buying some new interfacing device to mimic a radio jockey-esque voice over environment.

Just a simple plug and play will do, I actually just searched hard and finally ordered the Rode NT-USB. thank you.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#467

Post by stephvd »

Someone1234 wrote: post #217
ahelwer wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a Samson Q2U and have had a few people tell me I sound like a podcaster.

I, too, have the Q2U. The great thing about the setup, aside from the microphone being solid, is that it gives you an upgrade path but works right out of the box fully (mic, stand, pop-filter, USB or XLR). Phase 1: Plug it in via USB, use the included stand. GO! Phase 2: Upgrade the stand to a desk-isolating one (e.g. arm/freestanding, etc). Phase 3: Upgrade to XLR instead of USB (e.g. buy an audio interface/mixer).…

Thanks for the breaking up that information so nicely :)

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#468

Post by snowwrestler »

stolsvik wrote: post #463
brundolf wrote: post #319

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they're using external speakers, the only reason you're not hearing echo is because it's being software-cancelled. Different systems are better or worse at this software-cancelling; phones are good, Apple computers are good, otherwise YMMV.

Teams is good, Slack is good, Zoom is good. Which ones are bad?

Those are all good until they’re not. I’ve had echo and other room audio problems crop up intermittently in all three of those platforms during calls.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#469

Post by markogresak »

nvarsj wrote: post #229
benkuhn wrote: post #13

It's also really easy to have high quality audio! The author recommends a "podcasting" microphone, but a $35 standalone headset mic[1] is almost as good and much easier to use. If you want to hear a comparison, I got kind of obsessed with this problem at one point and took some comparison recordings here[2]. (You need a standalone mic since most headsets, even really nice ones, have really bad mics because most heads…

The ModMic is also excellent, and you can attach it to existing headphones [1]. I use this at home with my prized Sennheisers. It baffles me that some people don't seem to care about their audio quality on calls. The most obnoxious are those who use speakers and you get echo on all your talking, and despite telling them, they still never bother to get a decent mic. Another common offender are the Bose QC35s: they hav…

> The ModMic is also excellent

I have a ModMic 4 and I am disappointed. I used it for voice calls with my Sennheiser Momentum headphones.

- Accidentally pulling on the wire will cause it to turn on the magnetic handle and create unpleasant noise for others. - It picks up signal from the phone trying to connect and transmits it to the listeners as buzzing sound. So I had to put my phone far away to avoid that. - The mute switch does not really mute, it’s more like turning the volume to 10%. Learned that the hard/awkward way. - Sound quality is mediocre, to me it always sounded like any generic mid-range headphones+mic combo.

If I could test ModMic before buying it, I would pass. I’d rather put the money towards a standalone mic (e.g. yeti) + boom arm. It’s expensive, but the quality is way better. I now use Røde PodMic with Scarlett Solo. It’s whole other price tier, but I do not regret spending that money, which I cannot say for the ModMic.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#470

Post by diarrhea »

augustk wrote: post #186
diarrhea wrote: post #2

People vastly undervalue good audio quality. It also often makes the difference (given equal visuals) between great amateur and pro in e.g. the YouTube scene. I didn't have data to back this up before, but I bought a good microphone specifically for this purpose. People will simply like the audio, and by extension what I am saying and also me as a person, better. Meanwhile, my ears will continue to bleed from the awf…

I have always found it fascinating (and strange) that sound reproduction needs to be really bad before people in general complain. Compare this to image and video reproduction where most people are much more aware of the quality. It seems like most people have trained eyes but not ears.

My theory is that people have been conditioned to dirt poor audio quality from telephones, over many decades. Phone quality can still be bad.
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